I went back to the UK before the lockdown happened and got stuck, while here and driving with a Spanish license a very nice police officer from traffic said as I might be here for a while so I should get my UK back and now, as I am now back at our villa can I just get my UK license swopped back to the Spanish one I had. I have residencia and NIE will Traffico swap it back with out all the testing. RobB.
ROBB wrote on Thu Jul 8, 2021 3:18pm:
I went back to the UK before the lockdown happened and got stuck, while here and driving with a Spanish license a very nice police officer from traffic said as I might be here for a while so I should get my UK back and now, as I am now back at our villa can I just get my UK license swopped back t...
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...o the Spanish one I had. I have residencia and NIE will Traffico swap it back with out all the testing. RobB.
Hello. Well very interesting. I have Resendency and the only thing left to do was my license The lady that did all the paperwork for me as I have been trying to swoop over since Jan 2021. I kept asking and she said that there is a Back Log of paperwork.
She has giving my UK License back to me
and said that the Spanish and UK where doing a DEAL with this. I have paid for my doctors test. So what is the next move
Lowie1960 wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 2:59pm:
Hello. Well very interesting. I have Resendency and the only thing left to do was my license The lady that did all the paperwork for me as I have been trying to swoop over since Jan 2021. I kept asking and she said that there is a Back Log of paperwork.
She has giving my UK ...Read more...
...License back to me
and said that the Spanish and UK where doing a DEAL with this. I have paid for my doctors test. So what is the next move
Hi Thanks , I guess the answer is wait and see then I'll wait for the hopeful deal to happen.
Posted: Fri Jul 9, 2021 3:55pm
Helpful member
I don't want to worry you but as a Spanish resident you can't drive on an English licence. You had to register your intention to change your licence before 31st December last year. Those who didn't, fall into the category of people who are required to take a Spanish driving test.
I know there is a suggestion that Spain and the UK may come to a more flexible agreement as regards doing a straight exchange of licences. However, as it stands at the moment that is not the case. If you get stopped by traffico the likely outcome is, at least, a fine, possibly more as technically you are driving without a licence. In addition you are likely to invalidate your insurance.
LosPardoslady wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 3:55pm:
I don't want to worry you but as a Spanish resident you can't drive on an English licence. You had to register your intention to change your licence before 31st December last year. Those who didn't, fall into the category of people who are required to take a Spanish driving test.
I know there is a suggestion that Spain and the UK may come to a more flexible agreement as regards doing a straight exchange of licences. However, as it stands at the moment that is not the case. If you get stopped by traffico the likely outcome is, at least, a fine, possibly more as...
Read more...
... technically you are driving without a licence. In addition you are likely to invalidate your insurance.
Oops thanks for that info I was still in the UK then so it looks like a driving test then. Many thanks.
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Posted: Fri Jul 9, 2021 6:56pm
ROBB wrote on Thu Jul 8, 2021 3:18pm:
I went back to the UK before the lockdown happened and got stuck, while here and driving with a Spanish license a very nice police officer from traffic said as I might be here for a while so I should get my UK back and now, as I am now back at our villa can I just get my UK license swopped back t...
Read more...
...o the Spanish one I had. I have residencia and NIE will Traffico swap it back with out all the testing. RobB.
Hi Rob. Without knowing the details I do not know how you became stuck in the UK as you had Spanish residency. As I understand it all through lockdown Spanish residents were free to return if that was there main home. Also after speaking to a friend who is a senior traffic officer in the UK, he said to me the advice you received by the officer regarding the need to re exchange your Spanish licence to a UK one was incorrect unless you were a permanent resident to the UK.
Chas99 wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 6:56pm:
Hi Rob. Without knowing the details I do not know how you became stuck in the UK as you had Spanish residency. As I understand it all through lockdown Spanish residents were free to return if that was there main home. Also after speaking to a friend who is a senior traffic officer in the UK, he s...
Read more...
...aid to me the advice you received by the officer regarding the need to re exchange your Spanish licence to a UK one was incorrect unless you were a permanent resident to the UK.
Thanks thats interesting, I have a house in the UK which I was getting ready to sell due to bad lodgers more like squatters so there must of been a misunderstanding on my behalf with the officers information. I'll listen better if it ever happens again.
Posted: Fri Jul 9, 2021 8:06pm
ROBB wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 7:56pm:
Thanks thats interesting, I have a house in the UK which I was getting ready to sell due to bad lodgers more like squatters so there must of been a misunderstanding on my behalf with the officers information. I'll listen better if it ever happens again.
I do hope the apparently poor advice given to you over your licence does not give you any complications getting a Spanish licence back. I do not foresee it being a problem and do not expect you will have to take the Spanish driving test as you were already resident before all the B word stuff kicked off. I will of course stand corrected if that is not the case. Hope all goes well for you sir!!
Chas99 wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 8:06pm:
I do hope the apparently poor advice given to you over your licence does not give you any complications getting a Spanish licence back. I do not foresee it being a problem and do not expect you will have to take the Spanish driving test as you were already resident before all the B word stuff kic...
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...ked off. I will of course stand corrected if that is not the case. Hope all goes well for you sir!!
Thank you for your kind words and thoughts.
Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2021 11:48am
Helpful member
ROBB wrote on Fri Jul 9, 2021 7:56pm:
Thanks thats interesting, I have a house in the UK which I was getting ready to sell due to bad lodgers more like squatters so there must of been a misunderstanding on my behalf with the officers information. I'll listen better if it ever happens again.
ROBB - I worry for you that there may be a can of worms waiting to be opened here that is bigger than your driving licence problem. Is your Spanish residency "permanente", i.e. you have had residency for more than 5 years and have renewed it after the initial 5 year period expired? If not, then an absence of greater than 6 months could, in theory, invalidate your residency. https://www.thelocal.es/20210318/how-long-can-brits-stay-in-the-uk-without-losing-their-eu-residency/
If you are thinking of selling your UK property, then (a) make sure you know what your residency/tax residency position is and (b) get some good tax advice. If, for example, you have owned the property in the UK for 20 years, lived in it as your main home for 15 and rented it for the last 5, then your UK tax charge on sale is likely to be minimal, however if you are Spanish tax resident then I believe you would be liable to pay tax in Spain on the entire gain since initial purchase.
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